I’ve definitely got to say that I’m enjoying the California weather. It occurred to me today as I biked down to and along the Strand that normally I wouldn’t experience this kind of nice weather in Canada until say mid-May or early June. It was a perfectly sunny day with little wind. And I’ve now found the perfect route to get there without trudging up and down this one huge hill that I had been doing before. Granted it adds about 2KM each way but that’s fine. It’ll make my usual ride about 42KM instead of 38KM. For now I’m still using my beater single speed bike but I will have to get back on my proper touring bike at some point (it did get a nice tune-up so I should actually ride it).
It’s interesting living here in Southern California. K had asked me recently if I like it and I have to say that I do. It’s weird but the small suburb that we live in feels somewhat like a small city. It’s hard to imagine that we belong to one of the more populated cities in the US. For example, last night I took the pugs out on a walk. It was a pleasant warm night with little breeze. We take the same path as many other dog walkers, cyclists and runners do. At one point I stopped and looked up. I could clearly see and identify the Little and Big Dippers. This was something I couldn’t do in Toronto nor NYC. (When I lived in Burlington, I could do it when I walked along Lake Ontario). I imagine that come summertime I’ll be able to see even more stars in the summer sky.
Back to the cycling. If it wasn’t for work, I’d bet I could do in a year here what would normally take me 3-4 years to do in Toronto. I’m kinda excited about that. I still have to venture out farther and I need to figure out where in San Diego I want to stay. I’ve found the path I want to take to get down there but I do want to find a place to stay overnight. I was pondering camping but the choices seem limited and the KOA prices are a tad high for a tent (sans car). I mean, at $50 a night I might as well go for a cheap hotel at $100 — especially since it would be only one night. Right now, my bigger challenge is all the travelling I’ve been and will be doing for work. At the end of the month I go to Austin, come back for a weekend and then will be off to Orlando for about 11 days. And then I have two weeks of online teaching (although that means early start with early finish so I could bike once class is done).
In other fronts, K got me World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. I so want to play but with it taking 25GB of space (!!!) it’s a bit much for this system. And I really do need to get my own computer again. I’ve been debating between getting a Mac or a PC (I love my work Mac Book Pro). And then to add more challenge to it, debating on laptop vs desktop. I like the laptop option as it means I could be outside playing but the desktop option allows for more customization. Then again, who am I kidding? I tend to be the one who gets it maxed out and nothing to customize anyways. I may just go for a MacBook Pro and get the iPad 2 when it’s finally released. Certainly my wireless is decent enough. I think it’s actually faster than the cable connections I had in NYC or Toronto. Anyways, that will probably wait until after tax season. I’ve had some money set aside for taxes but I may not need all of it (I over-estimated what I owe on some stocks I cashed). That’s a “to be reviewed later” pile.
The one thing I will need to do is figure out if I can get top surgery finally. My insurance is definitely one that will cover it; I just need to find a doctor that is, ideally, within network. This whole in and out of network stuff is the stuff I hate. I’d rather just go to a doctor I’m comfortable with, regardless of anything else, and use them. Meh. Anyways, I think on my next visit I’ll ask her if she can recommend anyone for the surgery and if so, I’ll check them out to see if they can get it covered under the insurance. Then I’ll just need a letter from her and I probably could get a letter from my old NYC doc to get the insurance company to cover it (as long as it’s deemed a medical necessity they will cover it). I’ve reached a point where binders are becoming annoying and I know once I really get into the cycling I won’t want to where those any more. Even now I find it too constricting but I also, at the same time, feel rather self conscious of it.
It’s a weird thing that I’ve noticed that as I continue further in, my gender dysphoria is increasing and I’m more aware of the slight difference. Most people seem to ignore the F on the passport (still my only ID — given the work schedule I don’t know when I’ll be able to finally get lessons for driving) and refer to me as Mr or Sir but for me, personally, it’s becoming a health issue (back pain and interferes at times with workouts and such) and something I need to get addressed. Fingers crossed that this year will finally be the year.